The Elephant in the Fishbowl: Comparative Character Analysis of H.C. Andersen’s the Little Mermaid and Chris Colfer’s the Sea Foam Spirit from The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

Abstract

This thesis consists of a comparative character analysis of parallel characters that illustrates the problematic nature of the rewriting of the Little Mermaid as the Sea Foam Spirit in Chris Colfer’s The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (2012). I examine what kind of motivations Hans Christian Andersen’s original titular protagonist in The Little Mermaid (1837) is considered to have in academic discourse that affects her agency. I emphasize the role of spirituality in her character and discuss how secularization of her character in rewritings has contributed to repetitions of similar rewritings, that in turn increase criticism on the character. Additionally, I examine the Sea Foam Spirit’s character in comparison to other beloved fairy tale characters in The Wishing Spell. I argue Colfer participates in feminist tradition of revisionary fairy tales, as traditional fairy tale heroines are central characters in the novel.